Retort volatilization of zinc



Patented ct. 23, @237 GE-JRQEE S. ERUOKS, CF GARY, INDIANA.

BETORT VGLATILIZATION 01E Z1338.

No Drawing.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, GEORGE E. Bnoons,

a citizen of the United States, residing at Gary, in the county or" Lake and State of 5 Indiana, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Retort volatilizotion of Zinc, of Which the following is a specificw tion.

The present invention relates to methods for handling zinc metal in effecting the retort oletilization thereof, such as in the process of refining zinc by distillation and in the French process of manulel'rturing oxide of zinc.

Hitherto, in handling the zinc metal for retort volatilizstion, it has been customary to-melt and cast it into sticks or strips of a size suitable for ready introduction into the voletilizing retorts, or to melt the 2 itially formed zinc plates and feed the zinc into the retorts in the molten condition.

By introduction of the zinc metal the methods hitherto knowin a material lossof Zinc is caused by oxidation and dross fee-- metion, as Well as an inolusion'ol oxygen and oxide in the foetal, which is reflected in' shortened runs in the volatilizing process and in decreased life of apparatus.

In accordance with the present invention i) the retort voletilization of zinc is carried out in the following manner:

The zinc metal to he retested is pro formed in -sheets or plates, say, of th to 1th inch thickness, in any suitable manner,

. 5 for example, by electromlposition from solutions derived from the lixivietion of suitable zine ores. The zinc thus deposited is low in impurities, containing less than 0.07% lead.

The initially chenicelly reduced suitable size for formed zinc plate me to strips or sticks 01 a introduction into the voletilizing retort, this being accomplished by means of any suitable device such e mechanical shears. The strips or sticks thus produced are p? l fly introduced into the furnace or rotors i the manner (lo-- scribed in my cop'emling spplicstion s No. 539,460.}, filed ei'en deteherewith;

Application filed February 27, 1922. Serial E70. 53%i,456.

that is, they are retained in the heating zone of the vapors'issuing from the mouth of the volatilizing retort until preheated to a substantial degree before being inserted. in the molten metal in the oath. They may be "fed in from time to time or continuously to Wholly or partially replace. the zinc volatilizerl from the retort, In carrying out the invention in connection with the French process of making zinc oxide, it is preferred that the metal or sgelter employed be of the character of that produced by electro-deposition from solutions derived from the ore, and containing not more than 0.07% of lead. The strips thus introduced are'substentially free from dross and oxide and on introduction into the retort are melted with a minimum disturbence of the working condition of the retort.

I cleim:

l. A method of handling Zinc in effecting the retort voletilizetion thereof which consists in initially feminine; the zinc in plates, mechanically reducing the plates into strips and feeding said mechanically formed strips of zinc into a volatilizing retort containing a molten body of zinc to replace zinc volatilized therefrom.

2. A method of handling zinc in effecting the retort volatilization thereof which consists in initially electro-depositing zinc in plates not over l inch thick, mechanically reducing the electro-deposiied plates into strips and feeding said mechanically formed strips of zinc into a voletilizing retort containing a molten body of zinc to replace zinc volotilizetl therefrom.

3. A method of handling zinc in effecting the retort volatiliza'tion thereof which consists of initially electro-depositing zinc containing less than 0.07% of lead in plates not over 31 inch thick, mechanically reducing the electro-deposited plates into strips and feeding said mechanically formed strips of zinc into a, vohitilizing retort containing a molten oody oi? zinc to replace zinc volatilized therefrom.

GEORGE S. BROGKS. 

